SpaceX is causing a rift between Brownsville residents. Some say it’s shattering the lives of locals but others are welcoming the economic boom its created.

SpaceX is causing a rift between Brownsville residents. Some say it’s shattering the lives of locals but others are welcoming the economic boom its created.

Residents of Brownsville, a small city in Texas, are divided. Their town is now home to SpaceX's rocket-production facilities, which only promises to grow bigger. Some locals told Insider they're at their wits' end with SpaceX as the aerospace company sets off explosions and pushes locals out of the area. But others see it as a positive impact on the economy and residents' wellbeing. Brownsville, which lies 20 miles west of SpaceX's launch facilities on the Gulf Coast, is known for being one of the poorest areas in the US. The 300,000-person city also has a very high unemployment rate. When SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted at the end of March that — $20 million to schools and $10 million for revitalization — it split the city. Musk also announced that he was building at SpaceX's launch facilities which would be "much larger" than Boca Chica Village, where the company is developing its Starship rocket. Brownsville's mayor Trey Mendez was surprised at Musk's announcement and said in an it was "exciting" that the community could have the chance to become the face of "space exploration and innovation." Mendez said he hoped Musk's capital would help "accelerate the progress [in Brownsville]